DoD News

News Article

Navy Sub Runs Aground in Pacific

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8, 2005  About 20 crew members are injured, one critically, after the Los Angeles-class submarine USS San Francisco ran around Jan. 7 about 350 miles southeast of Guam.

The Guam-based attack submarine, with 137 crew members aboard, ran aground about 4 p.m. Hawaii Standard Time while conducting submerged operations, according to Alyssa Batarla, a spokesperson for U.S. Pacific Fleet Public Affairs at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The vessel was en route to Brisbane, Australia, for a routine port visit when the incident occurred, Batarla reported.

Initial reports indicate that the submarine's hull is intact, and there are no reports of damage to the reactor plant, she said. Military and Coast Guard aircraft were en route to the site to monitor the situation and provide assistance.

The vessel is currently on the surface in the western Pacific, returning under its own power to Guam. It is expected to arrive at its home port Jan. 10, Batarla said.

USS San Francisco is one of three nuclear-powered submarines homeported in Guam, Batarla said.